After an early morning start on Friday 21st September our group met up at Langston harbour just off the M27 in Hampshire. It immediately became apparent that this was a very good choice as our first migrant, a Common Redstart, was visible within three minutes of pulling in to the car park! A wonderful afternoon was spent around Langston pushing our first day list to 58 species. The Whinchat, Stonechat and Wheatear were absolutely everywhere in huge and staggering numbers. After Langston we set off to Portland Bill in Dorset where we quickly checked out the tip of the Bill in the fading light. We checked in to our Portland Heights hotel where we enjoyed the first of many wonderful meals.
On Saturday, after a first light start to check the bushes around the hotel for migrants, we returned for a huge breakfast and then left for our first call - Lodmoor RSPB Reserve just to the east of Weymouth on the A353. Our group spent a very enjoyable walk around the whole reserve in very warm sunshine. The Dartford and Cetti's Warblers being the highlights. After a packed lunch supplied to us by the hotel,? we headed back west towards Weymouth and Radipole Lakes RSPB reserve. Your Web Author was especially struck by Radipole a it is a fantastic example of a nature reserve maintained in the very centre of Weymouth town. Once again this proves the theory that, if you build the right habitat, the birds will arrive. Again superb views of Cetti's Warblers and Kingfishers were had by most of our group (sorry Steve!). Late afternoon saw us back on the tip of Portland seawatching.in the afternoon sun. The Sunday saw our group split up to make our way home. The majority of the group headed for a boat trip to Brownsea Island of off Poole while your Web Author called in to Durlston Country Park just south of Swanage. This turned out to be a park that is well worth a visit by anyone heading down that way. Although not lucky enough to see one in the limited time, the park is very well known for its passage migrant Wryneck in September. The missing Wryneck were made up for by the sight of a hunting Peregrine Falcon within feet of the cliffs. A fantastic weekend was had by all of our group members that joined us in our annual trip. Finally a huge and sincere thank you must go to Sue and Stephen Anderson for the superb organisation and the choice of the excellent hotel. The logistics of caring for our group and the taking care of everything by Sue and Steve meant that we didn't have to worry about a single thing except where our next migrant bird was going to be found! (See below images for species list)
Species Report
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